Future GPX Cyber Formula Garland SF-03

       

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Made By:
Mega House
Scale:
1/24
MSRP:
¥16,500
Overview:
Packaging (Design):9/10
Packaging (Durability):10/10
Casting (Body):9/10
Casting (Interior):9/10
Casting (Chassis):9/10
Casting (Engine):N/A
Paint (Exterior):10/10
Paint (Interior):N/A
Paint (Trim/Graphics):10/10
Overall Panel Fit:10/10
Total Score:9.5/10

 
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Mega House Future GPX Cyber Formula Vision Asurada
Mega House Future GPX Cyber Formula Vision Asurada packaging Mega House Future GPX Cyber Formula Vision Asurada boost pods Mega House Future GPX Cyber Formula Vision Asurada waist pods Mega House Future GPX Cyber Formula Vision Asurada cockpit Mega House Future GPX Cyber Formula Vision Asurada rear canopy Mega House Future GPX Cyber Formula Vision Asurada rear

 
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Background

The Garland SF-03 played an active part in the early stages of the "New Century GPX Cyber Formula SAGA," and left a big impact as the machine Hayato Kazami switched to from the Asurada. It has a simple but sophisticated form with an impression of agility, and its markings and beautiful coloring make it suitable for the name Garland Glory.

 

Packaging

The packaging for Mega House's "Livery" series uses the same physical design as the previous boxes, but as with the cars the design has been dialed up: more and richer colors, more stripes, more text, and heavier saturation across the board. The insert represents a curved section of track with some grass on either side, and the car is sandwiched between two molded plastic trays with the accessories in separate compartments and soft plastic sheeting to protect the paint.

 

Casting/Paint

Another excellent casting from Mega House, with slick panels and lines sharp enough to shave with. Most of what you see is plastic - transparent orange for the front light and wing details, transparent blue for the canopy, transparent red for the taillights, and opaque for everything else. The chassis and drive axles are metal, mounted to hard vinyl tires over plastic wheels. Everything from the breaks edging the control surfaces to the extractor vents just ahead of the rear axle are beautifully defined. Under the canopy is a detailed dashboard with separate control sticks, a seat with separate belts, and even a tiny nav computer interface.

Great as the sculpting work is, the paint is next level. The "Livery Edition" series takes the standard paint scheme but makes it more "premium," as well as adding a multitude of contingency sponsors to recreate the look of a contemporary race car.

The base colors are pearl white and metallic indigo, finished with a high gloss that's smooth enough it can - literally - be used as a mirror. The trailing edges of the wings have an added pop of dark red finished in the same metallic gloss. Scattered across the surface are sponsors including Light CF, SundanS, SCFRP, CTS, Cyber Composite Material, Greus, SV4, and Tractos. It also has "Garland SF-03" printed on both sides under the canopy and across the trailing edge of the lower rear wing. Kazami's name and the Japanese flag are on each side near the seat, and Sugo's corporate name & logo are sprinkled across the car. the number 9 appears in bright red on the front wing and both rear side winglets. Finally, for that extra touch of realism, a few labels have been added near the engine intakes and suspension components. The printing on all of these is first-rate, sharply defined and perfectly located despite their minuscule size.

 

Features/Accessories

Boost Mode can be recreated by lifting the rear engine pods, replacing the main exhausts with larger units, and adding the dorsal wings just behind the main scoop. It's not as delicate as some others, but still not what I'd call "robust." Take care when adding, removing, or reconfiguring parts. An unpainted figure of Hayato Kazami is also included, seated with one leg stretched out and his helmet under his arm. Detailing is good, and matches the other figures we've seen in the Cyber Formula series.

 

Accuracy

Technically it loses some points in the accuracy department by making it more realistic, since the animated cars had more basic paint jobs with none of the additional detailing you see here. This is more like the show car they'd use to advertise the team to investors. Everything else is spot-on, from the shape of the SF-03 to the details in the cockpit.

 

Overall

I had originally passed on the "Livery Edition" cars because they were repaints of what I already had - the Asurada AKF-0/G and Ogre AN-21 - but after seeing this I'm seriously reconsidering that position. It really is that good.

 

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